Hickey Funeral Chapel

Walter Dale Swanson
(May 26, 1919 - June 4, 2011)

Funeral services for Walter D. Swanson, 92, of Pukwana, will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, June 9, 2011 at Zion Lutheran Church, Chamberlain with burial in the Pukwana Cemetery, Pukwana, SD. Visitation will be Wednesday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Hickey Funeral Chapel and a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church, Chamberlain.

Walter Dale Swanson was born May 26, 1919 on the homestead near Pukwana to Emiel R. and Adeline (Lunn) Swanson. He attended country school in Cleveland Township and high school in Pukwana. Walter bought his first farm near Pukwana with his brother Rudolph. On September 9, 1947, Walter was united in marriage to Elizabeth “Betty” N. Moline. In 1949, Walter and Betty bought a farm and moved north of Kimball. In 1959, the family moved to the old Talich place near Red Lake. Walter spent his entire life farming. In 2006, Walter moved to Regency Retirement Assisted Living in Chamberlain where he resided until the time of his death. Walter served on the FLB, FHA and ASCS Boards. He also volunteered as a Sunday School Teacher and on many church boards. He enjoyed ballroom dancing and in his later years traveling around the United States.

Walter passed away on June 4, 2011 at Sanford Medical Center in Chamberlain at the age of 92 years. Gratefully sharing his life are his wife Betty of Huron; seven sons Dale Swanson and wife Wanda of Pukwana, John Swanson and wife Susan of Pukwana, Emiel Swanson and wife Diana of Pukwana, Edward Swanson of Pukwana, Charles Swanson and wife Wendy of Pukwana, Richard Swanson and wife Kim of Pukwana, and Jesse Swanson and wife Melissa of Rocklin, CA; seven daughters Nannette Martin and husband Rev. Dr. Terry of Mitchell, Priscilla Swanson of Portland, OR, Rosanne Spiehs and husband Rev. Scott of Wolsey, SD, Laurie Bredehoft and husband George of Portland, OR, Julie Eggert of Portland, OR, Roberta Ringgenberg (deceased) and husband Larry of Brookings, SD, and Hollie Dingle and husband Cameron of Lexington, KY; four brothers Rudolph Swanson and John Swanson both of Pukwana, Alvin Swanson of Kimball, and Edwin Swanson of New Prague, MN; a sister Lois Bickner of Kimball; 39 grandchildren; and 17 great grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his parents, daughter Roberta Ringgenberg, two brothers Harold Swanson and Lawrence Swanson, a sister Helen Bebo, and son-in-law Martin Eggert.